Gaining Notice

I never close doors.

Just letting you all know; we're gaining traction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP_qNm-96Dc&list=PLB9B0CA00461BB187

http://www.cracked.com/article_20614_6-insane-video-game-fan-theories-that-make-total-sense_p2.html

I'm hearing the game everywhere; people are talking about it.

Hold the line.

Hackett out.

Arian Dynas wrote:I never close doors.

Just letting you all know; we're gaining traction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP_qNm-96Dc&list=PLB9B0CA00461BB187

http://www.cracked.com/article_20614_6-insane-video-game-fan-theories-that-make-total-sense_p2.html

I'm hearing the game everywhere; people are talking about it.

Hold the line.

Hackett out.

Good to see you again.

Takes a while for these things to set in. Maybe ME3 devs knew that. Or hoped it. Or whatever. Bye!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KG1ziCvLkJ0&list=PLB9B0CA00461BB187

yeah bad writing lulz.....

Holding the line, sir!

Arian Dynas wrote:I never close doors.

What does that even mean?

Just letting you all know; we're gaining traction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP_qNm-96Dc&list=PLB9B0CA00461BB187

http://www.cracked.com/article_20614_6-insane-video-game-fan-theories-that-make-total-sense_p2.html

I'm hearing the game everywhere; people are talking about it.

Hold the line.

Hackett out.

Define traction? I don't feel we've gained traction in a long time. A very long time. BW has been careful to provide reinforcement for literalists whenever they've given us any, so it's been a stalemate at best. We've always had some intelligent believers who put IT out there like in that Cracked article, but it's no more credible than it was before and we don't have more believers than we did before. Just take a look at that cerebral holocaust of a comments section. A bunch of synthesizing twats who think EC disproved IT. We're not gaining traction... we're just staying above water. And we always will. Because we're right, damnit.

The cracked article was poorly written and just shows people still remember IT, not that it's gaining anything.

I don't know guys... I swear there is way more believers than when I first started learning about it. I can actually find them in random places more often now.

But that could just be coincidence, maybe I got luck in those instances.

I'm with Rif here.
This entire debate is in hibernation since the last content has been published six months ago and save for some far fetched pet theories you can read in the Loony Bin Scary Door Section, nothing has been added. Actually, the Citadel DLC added nothing to the overall story, unlike Leviathan or even Omega.
And due to this long time without anything new, people stop caring. The discussions have been circling for several months and due to the lack of new imput, nothing new is going to be gained by keeping discussing the same thing over and over again. Thus people lose interest, but this does not mean that they forget everything about IT.

By the time there is going to be revealed more information about ME4 and possibly the release of this game, this discussion will spark again.
And with this, I shall return to hibernation myself. See you on the other side.

I'm not sure we're gaining per se, but the exposure that the Cracked article gives IT is nothing but positive.  A substantial chunk of ME fans (loosely defined) probably played the games once, didn't care for the ending, and put them away without another thought.  Some of them may be hearing about IT for the first time when reading articles like the one mentioned.  Since the article isn't overtly hostile toward the theory, it serves as a positive introduction.

Don't worry too much about the comments section.  Those people are lost.  


I'm not lost.  You're the one who's walking on the ceiling.

Mmmmm, yes. Look to the ones who can still be saved.

AceOfShovels512

09-19-2013 | 6:46 pm

"The middle option is called Synthesis. It's called that because it synthesizes organic and synthetic life. It wouldn't even make sense to call it synthesis if it was just joining the reapers. Everyone essentially meets at a middle ground and rides off into the sunset together, including the reapers. If anything the reapers joined us, because our cause was already to strive toward a better tomorrow and then they started helping out."

Well what seems different by now is that things went more from:

"Oh, I would LOVE if IT was true, but it's really not." (especially so after EC)

To:

"You know, people say EC and Leviathan disprove IT, and sure, but I like to think it's true. In fact, that's how I'm going to play my game!" attitude


At least this is what I'm experiencing IRL and as a more slowly growing trend online (with those who still talk about that game at all, I mean).


Basically much less reactionary behavior, and much more "Ok, it's a game, and a story, I'm going to experience it the way I want."

Yes, there's the (now fewer in presence) total 'Anti-ITers', whatever. And there's the (now much fewer) "Guys, it's TOTALLY Synthesis as the best ending. Don't you get it???" people around. But I'm noticing much more pro-Destroy attitude with every month, and not just that, but a IT-sympathizing one.

It's not that people believe in it, but more that they believe in the story 'as-it-is' and where they want their Shepard to be. IT makes enough sense of it on the surface, so they actually go with it. It's not like they're really delving into the concept of Shepard being stuck in rubble and the war being lost in the meantime - just that Shepard is being mind twisted in SOME way and they better pick Destory and move on somehow.

Which imo is what Bioware intended all along - for players to normally not dig very much, except maybe with optional DLC content. The ending backlash threw it all out of wack, resulting is a ton of people hating the game, and a faction of players instantly formulating a theory instead of sitting on ideas and absorbing DLC content gradually. This 'catalyst' caused a bit too big of an explosion . And now that it's settled down, remaining fans are finally giving IT a shot, because why the hell not.

dork wrote:AceOfShovels512

09-19-2013 | 6:46 pm

"The middle option is called Synthesis. It's called that because it synthesizes organic and synthetic life. It wouldn't even make sense to call it synthesis if it was just joining the reapers. Everyone essentially meets at a middle ground and rides off into the sunset together, including the reapers. If anything the reapers joined us, because our cause was already to strive toward a better tomorrow and then they started helping out."

Yeah I read this one. It's one of the few Synthers left.

The rest of them moved on from the game quickly. Why? Because they're fans enough to complete everything they can, but not fans enough to know what the content is even about. Play game, go 'yay it rocked', and play other games.

That might be a bit of a True Scotsman there, but I mean it. Those who picked Synthesis and are still awesome with it, were fans enough to get into the trilogy (usually), but not fans enough to truly care about any of the narrative.

Which is why I consider Citadel to be Green/Synthesis themed. It's unreal and on the surface, gives those players all the fanservice they could ever fucking want. HA. Just like Synthesis ("Yay everything is peaceful and awesome! I even created peace with the REAPERS! :D"

Controllers are often, but not always, even worse in some respects though. They're the ones who just want Shepard in a powerful position, and are finally given the 'chance' to do so.

I know a bunch IRL who picked Control so Shepard really could turn into a being to watch over the galaxy. Like it's a good thing.

Synthsizers are delusional, like Shepard in that ending lol, but Controllers have real 'issues' in this, heh. They don't exactly hold 'delusions' (they do, but not in a more distinct way), but instead just want the 'best' ending they can have without anyone 'good' dying or bowing to the Reapers.

And in the process, they bowed to the Reapers.

Ultimately, I think anyone who thinks the endings are legit, needs even an intro course in literary theory :S.

Like said on that BSN thread, the endings are 'Thematically Revolting' when taken literally.

Even DESTROY is an illusion. But like any Renegade, you get to dig yourself out of your mental hole instead of relying on others to get you out (which is what I expect for Controllers btw, who keep enough of themselves intact to fight the Reapers, but not enough to be 'truly Shepard', but you'll still get pulled out).

To think that those endings 'really happened' is to miss the part where the 'some of the details have been lost in time'. Sure they 'happened', but not in any realm we can call related to conscious reality. Mass Effect more than just dabbles in virtual worlds/reality, and this is likely their big twist to reveal at ...some fucking point.

i imagine spacegrandad telling kiddy something like this.

"and then shepard runs to the beam.....i cant remember what happens next but shepard was found later on in the rubble alive"

"but grandad, thats it?"

"no child but it's time for bed... i'll tell you the details another time. now we've got to go or yo mama will have my guts for not having you home in time for supper"

"ok grandad.........dickhead"

dork wrote:AceOfShovels512

09-19-2013 | 6:46 pm

"The middle option is called Synthesis. It's called that because it synthesizes organic and synthetic life. It wouldn't even make sense to call it synthesis if it was just joining the reapers. Everyone essentially meets at a middle ground and rides off into the sunset together, including the reapers. If anything the reapers joined us, because our cause was already to strive toward a better tomorrow and then they started helping out."

My reaction.

I don't think IT is gaining notice.  If anything, the majority of people enjoyed and supported IT as an idea but received no confirmation.  If you bring it up amongst casual gamers and most ME fans, there is an overwhelming amount of support from them.

In fact here's an AskReddit thread from today showing some love for IT (it's the highest rated VG theory and quite high for a non-film/tv theory, may have to ctrl+f to find it):

http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1msa8p/what_is_a_fan_theory_that_is_too_good_not_to_be/

Yeah, it might be more appropriate to say that IT-Hatred/Bashing has subsided (or I guess stigma?) but the level of belief is about the same?

FreewheelinDylan wrote:I don't think IT is gaining notice.  If anything, the majority of people enjoyed and supported IT as an idea but received no confirmation.  If you bring it up amongst casual gamers and most ME fans, there is an overwhelming amount of support from them.

In fact here's an AskReddit thread from today showing some love for IT (it's the highest rated VG theory and quite high for a non-film/tv theory, may have to ctrl+f to find it):

http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1msa8p/what_is_a_fan_theory_that_is_too_good_not_to_be/

I especially liked the comment about how the Reaper War was never a war we were going to be able to win outside of a Pyrrhic Victory. It's not IT, but it captures the scope of just how bad things are for the galaxy when the Reapers show up.

Just did a quick search for "indoctrination theory" on Twitter, out of half-hearted interest. In between the religion/evolution debates, there's a lot of comments.

It's surprising just how many people are talking about it, or referencing it, or sharing it. Even now, late in the game. The theory's more widely known than people give it credit for... it's just a shame more of these players don't find there way here...